São Paulo – Fanem, a maker of medical and hospital and laboratory equipment that has been exporting to the Arab market for seven years, plans to further expand its presence in the region with the opening of an office. The maker already has exclusive representatives in several Arab countries and sells to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon and Syria.
"We already have a Jordanian employee who develops our trade area in Jordan and we noticed that the region still offers much to be worked. Now our objective is to hire more people to work the brand among the Arab nations. The strategy of the office still needs to be discussed and planned, but it should be put in practice still this year," stated the company executive director, Marlene Schmidt.
One of the strategies to aid in the search for new clients abroad is participation in sector fairs. At the end of this month, Fanem should be one of the 39 Brazilian companies exhibiting in the Brazil Pavilion at Arab Health, organized by the Association of the Manufacturers of Medical and Dental Products (Abimo). The sector exhibition should take place in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, between January 26th and 31st.
"Our team is going to make use of participation in the fair to hire people that may further develop our brand, which is so well accepted among the Arabs. Our maintenance engineer is going to participate in the fair and he should then head on to a visit to our clients in Kuwait, Yemen and Saudi Arabia," explained Schmidt.
According to her, nowadays 22% of all Fanem exports are turned to the Arab countries, the second main export market for the company. South America is still the main destination for foreign sales by the company.
Sales to the Arab market began in 2002. The first contact was made in São Paulo, at Hospitalar fair. The main products shipped to the Arab countries are equipment in the neonatal area, which include incubators, heated and conventional cribs and phototherapy equipment (for light treatment). In the line of laboratory equipment, the group exports mainly incubators, centrifuges and chambers for blood and vaccine storage.
Established in 1924, Fanem was the pioneer in the production of medical equipment. Foreign sales started in the 1970s. According to the board at the company, of the total Brazilian exports of incubators and neonatal products, 95% are credited to Fanem, which is headquartered in Guarulhos, São Paulo, and employs 300 people. The company products in this sector represent 18% of equipment for babies in the global market.
Apex award
In November 2008, Fanem won the Apex-Brasil Award, which in its second edition was granted to companies, sector organisations, states and journalists who support, expand and promote exports. "We were very happy with this recognition. To us, a medium-sized family business, it was a very great glory," celebrated Schmidt.
Contact
Telephone: (+55 11) 2972-5700
Fax: (+55 11) 2979-1575
E-mail: comercial@fanem.com.br
Site: www.fanem.com.br
*Translated by Mark Ament
